Snapshot: A look at who has received free voter IDs in N.C.

Some 260 North Carolina voters in 56 counties have thus far received free voter IDs from the DMV.

Under a law passed last year by the N.C. General Assembly, voters will need to show a photo ID when casting a ballot beginning in 2016. While that requirement doesn’t begin for two more years, voters who do not have valid identification can already receive one at no cost from a DMV office.

Here is a quick look at who has received a free ID from Jan. 1 through Mar. 20:

According to data from the State Board of Elections, 55 percent of voter ID recipients thus far have been Democrats, followed by independent voters at 31 percent, Republicans at 12 percent and Libertarians at 2 percent.

The vast majority of ID recipients – 87 percent – have also taken the opportunity to register to vote when requesting identification, compared to 12 percent that were already registered.

Men outpace women in requesting free IDs, 60-40 percent. African-American voters make up 62 percent of those who have received an ID, with white voters comprising 35 percent.

Voters 46-65 have been more likely to request a free ID than other age groups, at 40 percent, followed by voters age 18-29 at 34 percent.

Guildford County has had the largest share of voters receiving free IDs at 13 percent, with Mecklenburg and Forsyth counties at 9 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

While North Carolinians will not be required to show a photo ID until 2016, this year poll workers will inform voters of the upcoming requirement, which might spur an increase in requests for free ID cards from the DMV.